The first friendly since the 2026 World Cup saw Japan face Uruguay, with Japan coming from behind to win 3-1 on two goals scored in second-half stoppage time. Nikkan Sports columnist Sergio Echigo praised the win while noting that “in terms of content, it was completely Uruguay’s pace,” also pointing out that, as a friendly, eight substitutions were allowed. On 5ch, opinions split over how to rate Kuryu Matsuki, who scored the winning goal — some questioned whether he contributed anything besides the goal, while others argued that scoring is the most important job there is. Plenty of comments also voiced distrust of Echigo’s commentary itself.
<International Friendly: Japan 3-1 Uruguay> ◇September 24 ◇Q&A Stadium Miyagi
In their first match since the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North/Central America, Japan (FIFA ranking 17th) beat Uruguay (ranked 20th) in style. Nikkan Sports columnist Sergio Echigo (81) praised the win as a fresh restart, while also noting that, as a friendly, eight substitutions were permitted.
In sumo terms, Japan pushed Uruguay out right at the edge of the ring. Content-wise, it was completely Uruguay’s pace — they created decisive chances over and over, and there were plenty of close calls. Still, those two goals in second-half stoppage time deserve praise, and as a fresh restart, it was a good win.
There's no way he's writing this himself anymore lol
Feels like it's just "Sergio AI" cranking out articles on its own lol
10AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:38
You don't need to do anything except score.
81AnonymousSep 24, 2026 23:05
Re: #10
Wait, what?! What about defense? What about pressing?
11AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:38
He had great positioning and the ball kept finding him from the far side — converting even one of those is plenty.
13AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:39
If you're involved in the goal, nothing else matters lol
It's a sport about scoring goals lol
Eleven imperfect guys come together and cover for each other — that's football, isn't it?
14AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:39
He's not even a natural wing-back to begin with lol. He's been played all over the pitch so it's hard to tell his best fit, but really he's an inside midfielder or a holding mid.
15AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:39
It's not the guy who kicked it that's great — it's the guy who filmed it. (a twist on the classic "it's not the scorer, it's the passer" saying)
16AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:39
Actually, is that even the right position for Matsuki? Well, it's not like he was great in defensive midfield either.
19AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:41
Re: #16
That guy's been made to play everything from center forward to defensive mid.
17AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:40
Re: #1
You don't do anything either, and you're not doing it well.
20AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:41
That's where you gotta go full Brazil about it — "Scored on by Mr. Shiogai? Pathetic, Uruguay! Pfft-ha!" (mocking their South American rivals)
23AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:42
If you ask an AI to "critique it like Sergio Echigo," it says basically the same thing.
24AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:42
Does Sergio not know about Riquelme? The Riquelme who did nothing except get involved in goals?
25AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:43
True, everything else really was a parade of mistakes.
26AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:43
Matsuki's insane mental toughness hasn't changed at all. Kind of got choked up watching that.
27AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:44
Matsuki actually scored, so on the right he's better than Doan or Kubo.
31AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:45
Trying to win over the Kubo faithful with this one — scoring in your first start isn't something that happens often.
32AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:46
Re: #1
Wasn't Matsuki basically frozen out to begin with? The ball barely came to him — felt like they kept working the left side instead.
34AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:47
> Not trying to be snarky, but if the World Cup also allowed eight substitutions, Japan might actually have a shot at winning it.
Isn't it the other way around…
36AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:47
The record for youngest goal on a Japan national team debut belongs to Suga-chan of Sanfrecce (Hiroshima).
37AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:48
Like with Harimoto, he doesn't have much time left, so maybe we should just humor Sergio's comments. (Harimoto: veteran commentator known for blunt, old-school takes)
38AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:48
Apparently people age fast once they retire. The players he criticizes probably don't even care anymore.
41AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:49
It's right after the match, so he's saying even weirder stuff than usual. More substitution slots means fewer upsets, if anything.
44AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:49
An old futsal guy has no business lecturing about football. (Echigo is best known for his futsal background)
63AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:57
Re: #44
He actually coached me at some kind of soccer clinic back in elementary school lol
45AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:50
Sergio didn't say a single word about Shiogai.
46AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:51
For a comment like this, "yeah, that's probably fair" seems like a totally reasonable reaction.
47AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:51
Even Messi genuinely does nothing except score, doesn't he?
74AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:59
Re: #47
He's doing the job of making the opposing team aware that "Messi's out there" and keeping them on guard.
48AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:51
They should really be praising Nakamura's pinpoint switch of play right before that instead.
49AnonymousSep 24, 2026 22:51
Exactly, lol. No need to bring Shiogai into this one.
86AnonymousSep 24, 2026 23:08
Praised to the skies when you win, torn apart when you lose — that's pro sports for you.
91AnonymousSep 24, 2026 23:10
Re: #86
What do you make of an old man who only ever criticizes Japan, win or lose?
Background and Talking Points
Sergio Echigo is a longtime Nikkan Sports columnist known for harsh commentary on the Japan national team, a style that reliably sparks mixed reactions. This match was the first friendly since the 2026 World Cup; unlike official internationals, friendlies carry a special rule allowing up to eight substitutions, which tends to produce experimental lineups for trying out younger players. On the thread, takes on Matsuki split into two camps — “being involved in the goal is enough” versus “defense and pressing are part of the job too” — with some defending him by invoking Messi and Riquelme as players whose other contributions can go unnoticed as long as they’re involved in scoring. What’s harder to see from the individual replies alone, though, is that many commenters were less focused on Matsuki himself than on questioning Echigo’s own credibility as a commentator — reflecting a chronic distrust of his commentary style that runs through the thread.
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